Leader Mark Holland
Group Simon (we’ll try that and if it doesn’t work we’ll try something else) Roberts,
Pete (hold on while I adjust this) Vaughan.

Three riders came along on this exploratory ride. With only two others I took advantage to expand my repertoire of green lanes - rediscovering ones which I had been on with other leaders. Good weather as booked.

We first looked at Nanny's Lane near Raglan. A previous visit found this lane which runs in a stream bed in the middle third of length, a mass of liquid mud! Something large and agricultural had been through and redistributed a lot of the banks. Now much of the worst mud has washed away. The road is rideable downhill - uphill with difficulty. We also sawed through a tree to make it passable - motorcycles had been going up a difficult bank. It’s often not until lanes are obstructed do the signs of regular passage become apparant. On our way we went up a little sunken road at Gwehelog, going over a pile of leaves a metre high. Like many green roads in Monmouthshire all the leaf mould had washed out leaving a firm stony base. Proof that short lanes are a worthwhile break on a tarmac dominated journey.

We stopped for supplies at the garage outside Pontypool then re found the charming road down from Penreol, wide with twin heavy beech tree lines and small remnants of tarmac. We then rode over towards Old Furnace, passing former hedges displaced by the invasive Japanese Knotweed - so ugly in winter. It is an offence under the Wildlife And Countryside Act 1981 to plant or otherwise cause to grow in the wild. Another law not enforced? We climbed up the hill through Tranch and then turned onto the green road via Jacobs Farm and down the very steep hill. We then rediscovered the beautiful climb around Graig Ddu, observing near the end the shot shattered remains of "clay pigeons" in bright orange - what an eyesore! We returned to the tarmac road at Mynydd Llanhilleth on the former National Coal Board road used for tipping from Blaenserchan Colliery - a tribute to the un-sealed road builder’s art.

We then explored two green roads below Cefn-Crib and stopped for lunch, where we panned through a potted history of Simon’s shop and discussed Pete’s car repair business. After lunch no one was following and I turned back to find Pete adjusting his tyre pressure. He claimed he actually had a puncture and I suggested just adding air, which held out all day.

We went down to Llanhilleth via the green road through the yard of Maes-Y-Chym farm, naturally waving cheerily to the farmer. We went back over the mountain via British and onto Blaenavon, home of the Big Pit Museum. We enjoyed six green roads around Twyn-Allys above Govilon near Abergaveny, stopping to move a tree. We enjoyed two grassy lanes before Raglan just as the sun approached the yardarm. No other users were seen; saw lots of sheep – one farmer waved!

The others said they enjoyed themselves and I let them go home.